Life After I "Dew"

Yesterday I had my 6 week postpartum check up which means I officially have the green light to get my butt in gear and lose this baby weight.  Not that I haven't already been trying but now it's been approved.  I've reached the point where it's no longer acceptable to sit on my butt during nap time and it's time to get serious.

For the past two weeks we have cleaned up our diets tremendously around these parts.  I won't say that we're doing Paleo or Clean Eating but maybe a combination of the two.  I will say that I've eaten more fruits and veggies and less carbs {none} and wine {very little} in the past two weeks than I have in a very, very long time. I've made almost every meal we've eaten in the past two weeks and a lot of it has required me to get creative.  Breakfast has been the more tricky of the meals because I'm used to eating things like an egg white on toast with a sprinkle of cheese or an English muffin with peanut butter.  One thing I made this week that I was pleasantly happy with was an over-hard egg with sweet potato and avocado.  Jimmy asked if I just reached into the fridge with my eyes closed and ate the first three things I grabbed.  Funny, isn't he?

The funny thing is I've loved coming up with these new inventions and I've actually found a lot of new things I like.  The only thing is it's kinda hard to eat breakfast in a hurry because most everything requires cooking and on preschool mornings? There's no time for cooking so it's either I eat nothing or I make a shake because eating nothing is the worst thing you can do.

I hate to admit but up until the past few weeks veggies at dinner have been rare, at best.  Unless they were already cooked into whatever we were eating we didn't have them as a side dish or anything.  Well I'm happy to report that that's all changed and one of my go-to meals has been a black been veggie burger {no bun} with a slather of hummus and a steam bag of veggies.  It's delicious and I can feel my body responding.
Which brings me to my next point/picture.
According to my scale I haven't lost a single pound in 4 weeks.  Hard to believe based on these pictures, right?  That's why I'm focusing on non-scale victories this time around.  Because that ish is bananas.  Sure things are tightening up, the ute is shrinking, milk makers are no longer, blah blah blah but you cannot tell me that the girl on the right weighs the same {2 lbs. more actually} as the girl on the left.  Not possible.

But that doesn't mean that I wasn't a tad discouraged this week.  I mean, I've cut out all carbs and most sugars and dairy and replaced them with tons of fruits, veggies, nuts, meats, and this is the thanks my body gives me?  Sure, I thought it.  But then I look at these pictures {which is why I'm a HUGE proponent of progress pictures} and I realize that things are happening and just because the stupid scale is a liar doesn't mean that changes aren't being made.  I wish I weren't so lazy and actually took measurements because I'm certain those would keep me motivated.

So that ladies and gents is where I stand. Still 20 lbs down, still 40 lbs to go {to be back at my goal weight}.

• The difference between digital camo, Mossy Oak camo, Realtree camo, and all the other hundreds of camo out there.  I mean, really? Isn't camo camo?  When I ask Jimmy he just says, "you don't get it".  You're right babe, I don't.
• I don't get people who don't want to share their baby names with their family and friends.  I know different strokes for different folks but the way I see it, share so they don't steal it!  If you're afraid of people's reactions, you're going to get a reaction, good or bad, no matter when you tell certain people.
• Seinfeld.  Never watched it, never will.  I know I'm in the minority here so I'll stop there.
• Kids who fight sleep, namely mine.  I mean sleep is glorious, children.  It's something to cherish and enjoy.  You're going to fall asleep anyway so why fight it?  Go with it because I promise you need it and will feel better when you wake up.
• How fruit flies seem to appear out of nowhere.  This happens about twice a year at my house and it's happening now.  I don't even have any fruit laying out yet there are at least 3 of them flying around.  
• Husbands that sleep through babies crying and toddlers screaming.  I mean even if I had no monitor and my bedroom door was closed I'd still hear both of the babies if they cried and I'm deaf in one ear!  My husband?  Sawing logs.  SMH.
• Pearl Jam.  Again, I know I'm in the minority here but Eddie Vedder's voice makes me want to be deaf in both ears.
• Thin Mint and Samoa coffee creamers actually taste like the cookies themselves.  How!?
• Companies that don't have websites and/or online bill pay options.  It's 2013, this is unacceptable.  Am I right?
• How 9 months of pregnancy takes forever but 9 months with a baby goes by in the blink of an eye.
• At the same time your own pregnancy drags on for what seems like an eternity but when other people are pregnant it's like "OMG didn't she just announce she was pregnant?!".
• Anonymous blog haters.  If you're going to be "brave" enough to talk shit at least be brave enough to have a way for me to respond to your dumb ass.
• How different scales will give you a different number.  Even if you do it at the same time, wearing the same clothes, etc all scales are different.  Dumb.
• People that put on makeup, read, shave, put contacts in, etc while driving.  I mean texting and driving is illegal but those things aren't?

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

• I want to win my own giveaway.
• My 6 week old baby weighs as much as my BFFs 4 month old.
• I almost forgot to write this post.
• I attended a blogger event yesterday where we were given gift cards and those gift cards are already spent.
• I really really need like 5 hours in a quiet room and a big cup of coffee to just sit and catch up on blogs.  I'm that far behind. 
• Instagram video pisses me off because OMG it takes so long to load.
• If James wakes up before 6 am I put him in bed with me for another hour.  I never let KP in bed with me.
• I don't like Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
• I want to join Stitch Fix but I need to lose a good 30 lbs before I do so.
• I love having things to do outside of the house so that I can wear real clothes but I love coming home and immediately putting on my yoga pants more.
• I'm lazy and hate using the reusable k-cup in the Keurig even though I'm sure it'd save us a lot of money on coffee.

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I've been thinking about blogging a lot lately and how it's shaped who I am as a person.  I've also been thinking about the types of things I share here and whether I should scale it back a bit, keep it coming full steam ahead, modify things a bit, just thinking.  I don't like to post nonsense, even though some of my posts could be viewed as just that, and for the most part I like to think I post quality content around these parts.  Stuff that gets you interested and makes you want to come back and keep reading.

Truth be told, I've never seen myself as a writer. In high school there was nothing I hated more than a writing prompt.  I sucked.  I would stare at the topic and think I'd rather rip out each of my toenails, one by one, than write this essay.  I think I just hated being critiqued and the thought of the reader cringing over my words.  And now here I blog, for the whole world to see.  Now instead of being judge by my punctuation {because that's the beauty of blogging, I type/write how I speak and sometimes that means lots of !!! or run-on sentences} I'm now judged by my character, my choices, my lifestyle.  Some might think that that makes this type of writing even more scary but I say, bring it on!

Over the past four years that I've been blogging I've seen tremendous changes in myself.  What was once just a place to share wedding ideas has become a place that allows me to share my story with the world, inspire others, make people feel like they aren't the only one out there feeling a certain way and I hope, at times, makes people laugh.  I have always received my share of criticism and for the most part I do not let it bother me.  Half the time I've forgotten the negative comment by the time lunch rolls around the next day.  Id don't care if people think, "oh she's a drunk" all because I posted ONE picture to Instagram where I had a beer on a random Wednesday afternoon.  I don't care if they think my outfits are stupid when I post an #ootd.  I don't even get upset when they leave nasty anonymous comments about my decision to share certain {potty training} stories.

The way I handle the negativity is easy.  For every one person that says something nasty there is a long line of people behind them sending, "thank you" emails or "I've been there" comments or even words of encouragement that help ME.  And that, my friends is worth all the Negative Nancies.  If I can help one person or make one person feel less alone then my job as a "writer" is done.  

And this is a two-way street we're on.  I wish I could follow and read and respond to all of the people who do the same for me but I just don't have enough hours in the day.  I try to respond to each comment {that has an email attached} the best I can and I have formed some great friendships this way.  Engaging with my readers is what is important to me and makes this whole transparency thing worth it to me.  I hope that my readers feel like I connect with them and I never want to be seen as the blogger who let blogging go to their head and can no longer respond to comments or emails.  I've seen way too many bloggers get a big head over their "fame" and I hope to never come off that way.

So I may do a sponsored post, a review, a giveaway, etc and I know that that gets annoying to read day after day and sometimes can even feel like that's all that's out there anymore.  I get it, you want content, so do I.  BUT just know that there is a reason, a purpose for each and every post that gets published. You may not want to read about Huggies Little Swimmers and you might hate Wendy's Flatbread Sandwiches but guess what?  Those posts might pay my electric bill this month.  It might just be extra money that Kendall and I go get ice cream with.  Either way there is a purpose.  There is always a purpose.

Is it just me or does preschool mean your officially a mom?  I mean most would say the day the baby enters
the world via your "hoo-ha" or, in my case, your lower abdomen, would qualify you as a mother but no, preschool is the official start of motherhood.

Kendall started preschool last week. We've been talking about and counting down the days for months now.  It's been something I've been looking forward to for quite some time now.  Actually, shortly after registration happened last year I was kicking myself for not enrolling her in the 2-year-old class, mainly because I didn't know such a thing existed.

We had parent orientation the Tuesday before last and I was sent home with a handbook, fundraiser information, sign up sheets, a snack schedule, more forms than I know what to do with.  And in that moment I thought to myself, "I am a real mom now".  

Now my Tuesdays and Thursdays consist of running back and forth between school, making sure breakfast is eaten in a timely manner {because Kendall likes to take her time eating},backpack is packed, baby is fed in adequate time, and I don't look like the zombie mom from down the street.  It's real now and I love it.

Preschool brings on a whole new set of worries though. Is my child going to feel safe and secure?  Will she make friends easily?  Are her teachers going to work with her OCD tendencies?  Holy crap we have to bring a snack!?

The snack.  That is what I worry about the most.  Hear me out.

Have you been on Pinterest or Instagram lately?  It's FLOODED with people making sandwiches in the shape of Princess Sophia and packing the cutest little Bento Boxes with nothing but super healthy goodies {no Oreos or M&Ms}.  The pressure is on, people. I'm sweating bullets over here.  Even if I followed a tutorial for Sophia sandwiches I'm fairly certain they'd come out looking like Shrek.  I just don't have that talent.

Every day I say, "soooo...{nonchalantly} what'd you have for snack?!" and it's been crackers, string cheese, a cupcake...whew, OK I can work with this.  And then there was today.  Today I picked her up and she showed me what I thought was a craft project, a toilet paper roll, wrapped in tissue paper with ribbons on the end. Awe, so cute, it looks like giant piece of candy!  Except no.  Inside that toilet paper roll was her snack for the day.  Fruit snacks, my child's favorite thing on God's green earth.  It's on, Aiden's mom.

I mean seriously.  This is what I was afraid of.

So, thankfully, we have until October 1 to come up with a snack that will blow the pants off of Aiden's mom.

Right after I had Kendall I made a list of my favorite baby things because I always find those types of posts to be super helpful for first time moms.  Heck it works for 2nd, 3rd, 4th time moms too because in just a few short months/years baby stuff changes and gets better, as I realized this time around, and we need to know what the latest and greatest is.  Duh.  Also? The Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby registry recommendations are INSANE.  No one needs 16 swaddle/receiving blankets.  No one.  Unless you have quints or something.

I still use and love everything from my last list.  My boppy is the best, I use the pockets every time.  I store the remote, my phone, a bib, the bottle, a burp cloth, etc in that handy little tool box of a pillow.  I know the Ergo is the latest and greatest in baby wearing but I still stand by my Moby.  I just like how comfy it is and sure it's a lot of material but I really have no problems wrapping it.  And I'm sticking with my Born Free bottles.  I bought some Dr. Browns for Mr. James and OMG what do you people see in them?  Every single one of mine leaks, all six.  No thank you.

BUT this time around I realized "Whoa!  A lot of new, cool stuff has come out in just three short years!" and all the other bloggers and pinners have shown me some new {or not so much} things that I just new I had to try this time.  So this is my list of things we are loving so far.
1.  aden + anais.  OK so I'm pretty sure a + a was around when Kendall was born but there was no way I was spending THAT on a swaddle blanket.  And then my BFF had a baby and she used the swaddles and I was in love!  They're breathable which is totally awesome for summer babies. They're huge so they have tons of uses.  And they come in super cute but not too babyish designs.  We have the swaddle blankets {but only 3 of them}, the Dream Blanket {super huge, thicker version of the swaddles} and the burpy bibs {it's a burp cloth that has a snap so you can also use it as a bib} and we love them all.  LOVE.

2. Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash.  So I've always used Johnson & Johnson for everything, baby wash, shampoo, lotions, you name it.  But then I started thinking, "meh that's boring" and wanted to branch out of the Proctor and Gamble bubble.  So I heard lots of good things about Mustela and Burt's Bees baby wash.  WELL Mustela is hella expensive and outside of this one income budget, even if it did smell heavenly.  Burt's Bees is slightly less expensive but smells just as yummy.  Seriously I could eat James up after a bath.  Now if only I could get KP to let me bathe her in it but "it's for babies...".

3. Fisher Price Rock n' Play Sleeper.  Again, this was out when Kendall was born but we just used the ole Pack n' Play for a hot second until she just slept in her swing for  four months.  I heard so many great things about the RNP and I was determined to use one with James.  Thankfully Jimmy's cousin handed one down to us and the thing has been a dream.  It's super light-weight so you can move it from room to room with ease.  I like that it's on a slight incline because nothing freaks me out more than when a baby spits up and they're laying flat on their backs.  James sleeps like a dream in it. So much so that I'm a little nervous of moving him to the crib.

4.  Sprout Baby. This app is the bees knees.  I hear so many moms on IG talking about the best baby tracking apps and I've yet to see any of them mention this one.  Fools.  I love it.  It's so easy to use, I track all of James's feedings with it and it gives a nice little chart of his eating pattern.  There's also a section to keep track of milestones, doctor appointments, growth tracker etc.  Once we're on a more regular schedule I plan on using the sleep tracker because I love the feeding one so much.  Jimmy jokes because I should know when he ate last but I've got serious mom brain and rely on the app to tell me.

5.  Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe.  I am a big fan of swaddling.  Both of my babies slept/sleep so much better when they're all wrapped up like a burrito.  But James can wiggle his chubby little arms right out of a swaddle blanket, no matter how tight I wrap him.  These things?  There's no way he's getting out.  They're really really soft, super stretchy and idiot proof, even someone who "can't swaddle" can swaddle with these.  I swear he chills out the minute I burrito him.

6. just hatched- Cuddle My Baby Cream Talc.  Someone got this at my sprinkle for James and I had never heard of this brand but when I opened it and took a whiff I was SOLD.  This stuff smells so good.  So good.  I instantly Googled it and was fully expecting it to be like half a million dollars but I was pleasantly surprised to see it's less than $5 price tag.  I haven't smelled their shampoos and washes yet but as soon as I run out of Burt's Bees I plan on getting some.    

7.  Brica Day & Night Musical Mirror.  So I have to admit, I was a little embarrassed to put this "fancy" baby mirror on my registry and when no one bought it I went out and bought myself the cheap version {no light, no remote}.  Jimmy's grandpa surprised us with this one and I took the cheap one back with a quickness.  So you might think it's a little silly to have a baby mirror with a remote and I'm here to tell you to hear me out.  This thing has been a dream.  Driving at night and the baby loses his pacifier?  No problem, remote the light on, husband turns around and finds it super quick everyone is happy.  Also the music is way less baby/annoying than anything else I've seen/heard.  If that's not a win I don't know what is.

Hey! Hey! Hey!  Did you miss me?  As much as I loved taking a little SWW break I am excited to get back into it!  BUT I want to give a HUGE thanks to all my girls who helped hold the SWW fort down for the past 5 weeks, y'all are amazing!  THANK YOU so much!  I hope that you all stopped over to their blogs to say hi and maybe found a new blog to love in the process.

With that being said, this week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

• I went to get my fall decor out and realized it consists of one metal/wire pumpkin centerpiece for the dining room table. 
• I love my 5 hours a week away from Kendall while she's at preschool. She loves it too, just FYI.
• I have no desire to switch James to his crib any time soon.
• I didn't get our mail for nearly 2 weeks after James was born.
• I'm a little sad Kendall won't be wearing footie PJs anymore.  I mean she can but with the whole potty business just seems like a pain in the butt.
• My house will never be as clean as I like.
• Jimmy and I are obsessed with Weeds even though it's so not "right".
• Every recipe I've made this week has been in the crockpot.
• I told myself I didn't need anything when my Old Navy Super Cash came time to redeem and guess what?  I bought stuff anyway.
• I am more excited about getting my hair done this week than anything else that's happening this month. 
• I love seeing and hearing what Kendall comes home from preschool with each Tuesday/Thursday.  Preschool rocks my socks.
• I avoid all phone calls during preschool.  That's either my "me" time {if the baby is asleep} or that's "our" time and I'm snuggling him.  
• I really want another flatbread sandwich from Wendy's even though I'm supposed to be clean eating.
• I'm determined to blow my OB/GYN away with my weight loss at my 6 week check up.  I don't have a number in my head but I just know I want it to be impressive.

When I found out I was pregnant with Kendall I knew I wanted a girl.  I'm a girly girl and of course I was having a girl.  I knew it.  I mean I didn't know it but I couldn't have imagined that ultrasound tech telling me anything but "it's a girl!".

I didn't know a thing about boys. As an only child the only boy I was ever exposed to was my dad and well he had a daughter so he adapted to girly things too.  I didn't want anything to do with having a boy, I don't know to play with trucks or get dirty!  Obviously I would have been happy because we all know a happy, healthy baby is all that really matters buttttttttttt, I wanted a girl.

As you know Kendall was {and still is} a girl and I was thrilled.  I was going to get to relive my childhood, play with some of the same toys I loved as a girl, dress up my real life baby doll, braid each others hair, watch girly movies, go shopping and and and all the things girls do with their moms.  I couldn't wait.

Obviously I love being a girl mom.  I mean nothing is better than watching Kendall dance and sing and dress up and be a total girl.  She's the definition of a girl with a whole lotta sass and a side of adventure, she's really quite a diverse child. One minute she's playing in my makeup and the next she's outside "camping" with Jimmy.  I love that she is pretty much up for anything and I admire that quality in her. I wish I was more like that.

When we found out James was a boy I was way more open to the idea of being a boy mom. I actually remember one night laying in bed and texting Jimmy {he was on 3rd shift} and saying, "I'm so glad we're having a boy!" And throughout my whole pregnancy I just felt "different" knowing we were having a boy.

I had so many people tell me, "oh you are going to love having a boy!", "boys love their mamas!" and I didn't really know what they meant but I figured it was one of those you'll know it when you know it kind of things.
And boy was I right {as usual ;-)}.

Having baby James around is like...nothing else.  I cannot even begin to describe the way I feel about him. Obsessed just might be the best word.  He's just so snuggly and loveable and the minute his head hits my chest he falls fast asleep.  He makes me feel all warm inside and I just love his guts.

Maybe I am forgetting how I felt when I had Kendall or maybe I was so caught up in the new mom thing but I don't really remember this overwhelming feeling when she was born.  I know I held her just as much {actually I held her more}, and I know she was sweet and snuggly and she was way more smiley {James is a very serious baby} and she makes my heart burst with pride each and every day, but I just don't remember this feeling.  That makes me sad and feel super guilty for even admitting.

It's just different.
So I guess it's true, what everyone told me about having a boy.  One person even said that only a mom of both genders can understand and I totally believe that.  I don't love one more than the other and while my love for each of them is different they are still equal. Does that make sense?

Any other boy and girl moms know what I'm talking about?  It's hard to put into words because there isn't one word that fits the feeling but certainly I'm not alone.  Am I right?

Happy Monday Blog People!  Who says that?  No one.  Ever notice how no one is ever excited about Mondays?  Like ever.  When you're a stay-at-home-mom all days are Mondays, if you ask me.  The only thing that sucks for me when Monday rolls around is that Jimmy has to go back to work, otherwise it's business as usual around here.

Anywho...

This Monday is especially special because I've decided to make some changes around here. Not around the blog so much but around our house, our lives, and I'm pretty excited about it.

For starters we are cleaning up our eating big time.  I basically ate like sh!t for nine months and I'm tired {literally and physically} of it. I'm tired of feeling tired, minus the fact that I'm actually tired because I live with a newborn, BUT, I think making better choices is going to help. I've obviously been tracking calories and I'm doing good losing weight with that but I think my body deserves better than just counting calories.  I mean sure I could fill my body full of 100 calorie packs that do nothing for me or I can FUEL my body with 100 calories of something good like a hard boiled egg, nuts and a banana and feel way better.  I want to say we are getting our feet wet in the Paleo business but right now that's just it, getting our feet wet.  We {Jimmy's on board too, except when he made me go to Wendy's* right after I spent all afternoon making a Paleo approved grocery list and dropping a small fortune at the supermarket, ahem...} are not quite ready to give up things like cheese or coffee creamer but I think just making a transition into a cleaner lifestyle {baby steps} is going to help.
I've also decided to go ahead and start {slowly} working out again.  I know, I know, it's only been four weeks, I don't have doctors clearance yet, but hear me out.  I know my body and it's ready for something like walking on the treadmill or doing a 45 minute fat burn on the elliptical.  I'm not going to try doing anything serious like CrossFit or anything but just get my body back into the routine of exercise again.  I need it for my sanity too.

What do these things have in common?  Nothing really except for the fact that they all start with F and I'm going to talk about where I find my inspiration for them today.

Fashion.
When I'm in the mood for a new look, new hair cut or color, new outfit I head straight to Pinterest.  Duh, who doesn't?  It's like a one-stop shop for all things fashionable. Some looks I'm loving right now?
And then there's times where I'm just in the mood to buy something cute, cheap, whimsical, totally not necessary and when I need that in my life I turn to sites like Very Jane, Brickyard Buffalo, and Facebook because someone is always posting a "good deal" on Facebook.

Food.
I'll be the first to admit I haven't been cooking much.  I'll blame it on the new baby.  When I'm in the mood for a new recipe I bet you thought I'd turn to Pinterest again, didn't you?  Well I do, sometimes, but mostly I go Kraft.  Back in the day, when I lived with my parents, my mom got their Food & Family magazine and I was always flipping through it, looking at all the yummy pictures and I even stole her "collection" when I moved out.  I just love that their stuff is easy, affordable and the site is so user friendly. Now that I'm back to calorie counting I search the 'low calorie' recipes and there are lots of really good ones and everything I've made has tasted great. I also like reading the ratings because there are usually A LOT of reviews and they're usually really helpful, "don't use as much salt", "the sauce is spicy", "next time I'll add more _____" so it really helps when I'm making something for the first time.

They also have a 1 bag 5 dinners section where they give you the recipes and shopping list to make 5 dinners. It's very easy, cost effective and while some recipes I'm on the fence about {mac & cheese with some frozen veggies thrown in hardly counts as a meal in my book, but I digress} most of them are husband approving yummy.

Family.
When it comes to my family I am always looking for ways to make it better, strengthen our relationships, bring out the best in each other and just love unconditionally.  I love reading other family oriented blogs and seeing other family dynamics.  When I read a blogs like Loves of Life, Blue Eyed Bride, and House of Rose I am constantly inspired by these ladies and their families.  They support each other, have fun together, are creative, love Jesus and whenever I read these posts I always find myself asking myself what I can do to be more of those things.  Not that I'm trying to be like them but I can find attributes within each of them that I admire and would like to incorporate into my own life.

Fitness.
OK maybe it's just the people that I follow but I swear my Instagram is full of people working on their fitness all.the.time.  I log in and whether it's been two minutes or two days since I last checked my feed I am guaranteed to have at least a dozen pictures of people's super healthy food choices or their workout, even at 5am. I swear if I'm about to shovel a cheeseburger into my face all I have to do is click that little camera icon and I will instantly feel guilty about my poor food choices.  I love it because it's a total reality check.  Feel like sitting on your butt during nap?  Check IG and there's bound to be someone squeezing in some sort of workout during their nap time and so to the treadmill I go. It's a quick and easy reminder to me that I need to kick it up a notch.  Check out @mamalaughlin, @annie0720, @lauralou852, @skinnymeg31, @themrsburris, @amylbutterfield, and @advorunner, just to name a few.

So where do you turn for inspiration? What are some of your favorite sites, bloggers, books, people, TV shows, etc that you draw inspiration from?

Hi there! My name is Erin and I blog over at Homemade Happenings. At little bit about me: I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for 11 ½ year, have 2 boys ages 7 and 4 and am pregnant (almost to 20 weeks!). I love to garden, scrapbook and make cards, cook and bake. I blog about my day to day life, my pregnancy, my boys and life in general. I hope you stop by my blog and say hello!

I was thrilled when Shannon said I could guest host So What Wednesday! It’s my favorite link up out in blogland! And so, this is what I’m saying ‘So What’ to this week!

So what if…
· I cry every time I see that Carter’s commercial where the little girl is talking and says “The day I became yours, you became mine.” Waaa!

· I gained 5 lbs in one month (at my last prenatal check up, 16 weeks) and am hoping and praying that at my next appt. that is quickly approaching I see a number much smaller than that

· My boys have been in school for a month and I still get a little teary eyed when I drop them off in the mornings


· I am already picking up Christmas gifts for people. I hate that the stores put out their decorations so early but I am definitely an early shopper when it comes to gifts!

· I have started craving Panchero’s burritos again. When I was pregnant with Brennan I couldn’t stand them and that broke my husband’s heart because they are his favorite! Now I want them again! Go figure!

· I like to dip my toast’s crust in my chocolate milk. I’ve done it since I was a kid.

· I can’t get enough of Fall this year! The scents, the colors, the boots!

· I’m excited to get a 2014 calendar and fill it out. I love filling out a new calendar every year!


And that’s what I’m saying so what to!

Thanks, Shannon, for letting me guest post! Congrats again on your sweet little bundle! I love all the pics, keep ‘em coming!

Erin
www.homemadehappenings-erin.blogspot.com

Do you love to be in the know when it comes to fashion? Do you crave the latest and greatest?  Do you want to know about up and coming designers before anyone else?

Then, Fragments is for you.

Founded in 1984, Fragments has launched the careers of many of today's most famous designers.  From fashion jewelry to fine jewelry, they really have something for everyone.  They've been seen in People, O The Oprah Magazine, Self, InStyle and many more famous periodicals. Most of their pieces are inspired by the streets of SoHo in NYC so all the latest trends start with Fragments.

If I were given an unlimited budget some of the pieces I'd splurge on would be bold statement pieces, things I am definitely lacking in my jewelry box.

Yes, you.

I know you doubt yourself a lot.  I know you think, "Am I doing what's best for my kids?  Do they know how much I love them?  Are they happy?" and I am here to tell you the answer.  Yes.  You are doing a great job and you are doing the best job.

Some days feel like you might want to sell them to the first circus that comes to town, leaving you feeling defeated and ready for that first glass of wine well before 5 o'clock. Other days?  Bliss.  Pure bliss.  One minute they're up, the next they're down, it's like they're little bipolar creatures even though they are just doing what they're supposed to, being children.  Some days you might question whether you should go back to work just to get a break from the chaos for 8 ish hours and then the next day you ask yourself, "How did I ever do it {be a working mom} before?".  The thing about parenting is it's a huge balancing act and it's a job that no one, and I mean no one, is perfect at.

Some of you may chose to feed your kids nothing but organic food and would never step foot into a McDonald's.  Some of you may breastfeed.  Some of your kids might never see a TV program.  Some of you do rear-facing carseats till your child is three.  Some of you might cosleep.  And guess what? That's all OK.  I might not chose the same option and that doesn't mean that I'm doing a better job at this parenting gig but it does mean that I'm doing what's best for me, for my family.

We are so quick to cast judgement, on ourselves and others, that sometimes being open about your parenting skills {or lack thereof} makes being a parent even harder.  You already doubt whether you are good enough because, let's face it, parenting is just a big learning game, trial and error, and then you go and put "it" out there and BOOM!  Judgement.  And why?  Who gives you or others the right to judge what is right for you and your family?  You might look at someones Instagram feed and think, "OMG I can't believe she ______with her kid{s}" and why?  Because it's not what you would do? That doesn't make you better or her better it just makes you different and differences should be embraced, not frowned upon.

I may not know a lot but one thing I have learned is that if you are questioning what you are doing as a parent, it means you care.  If I wasn't constantly wondering if I was doing what was best for Kendall and James I would feel like I was failing them as a parent.  It is my job to question the ways in which they are raised and wonder if I'm doing my best. It means I care about them and they're future.

So you want to vent about your bad day?  Go ahead because for every Negative Nancy who will bash you and tell you you are a shitty parent you will have ten Positive Paulas telling you, "Thank You!".  The other thing I have learned about parenting is that no one wants to feel alone.  Everyone likes to know that they aren't the only one feeling they way they do or doing they things they do.  If I can help just one person then I feel like my job is done.

The next time you find yourself asking, "Am I a good mom?" I want you to immediately answer, "YES!" because chances are you are doing a fine job.  you are doing the toughest job but you are doing it and you are doing the best that you can.

Hair.
I've been growing my hair out for some time now.  I always grow it and then chop it and this time I've done a good job at not doing that.  Till now.  I'm getting the itch, seems like that always happens around fall.  Last year I went ombre and loved it but I'm not ready to change my color again.  I'm loving this cut because it's not too short but looks super easy.  I love that it's longer in the front, shorter in the back.  Sooo...I'm thinking of taking the plunge.


Dress.
I stocked up on some easy, can wear as my body changes pieces before I had James.  All from Old Navy, of course.  I got two of these dresses figuring they'd be comfy and I'd be able to dress them up or down and boy was I right.  These have been my go-to "outfits" since James has been born.  I wear them with sandals, flats, belted in the middle, so easy and so versatile and surprisingly flattering!  Highly recommend.

Remember my last post about life with two? Scratch that, reverse it.

Today sucks.

Let me set the scene.

7:10 am- "MOMMY I'M AWAAAAAAKE!!!!"   Good Lord this is not the wake-up call I asked for but OK, my feet hit the floor and I was on my mom a-game from the get-go.  It is really my own fault because I should have gotten my lazy ass out of bed earlier, but I digress.

7:30 am- "Let's make muffins!"  OK sounds amazing!  Sounds like good mommy/big girl bonding while the baby naps.  Except, he won't nap.

8:00 am- Muffins are done, they're delicious, even Kendall agrees.

9:30 am- An hour and half later Kendall still hasn't eaten her ONE muffin yet she's whining, "I'm so huunnggrrryyyyyy".  So I turn off the TV, make her sit at the table, and take all her "toys" until she's finished.  Cue the meltdown. I decide I'm going to ignore it and take the baby into his room to rock him to sleep, except he doesn't want to sleep.  Oh and construction is happening outside of our house and the smell of black top is about to send a certain three-year-old into a downward spiral, suddenly she has a very sensitive sniffer.

10 am- Through tears, screams, whines, threats and bribes the muffin is finally gone. Hallelujah, life can go on.  Baby finally sleeps and I decide some big girl outside action is in store so we head to the back yard to play on the swing set.  Ten minutes into swinging, laughing, finally having a good time and I hear it, the baby is awake over the monitor.  Crap.

11 am- Baby takes a nice warm SIX OUNCE bottle and I assume he'll pass out but nope, he's wide-eyed and doesn't want me to put him down.  At all.  Ever.

11:30 am- The toddler is hungry.  Here we go again.  Except this time she sits at the table, eats all of her food, all is well.  The baby is asleep in the bouncer.  #winning.

12:30 pm- It's nap time.  Kendall hears the timer go off, alerting her that it's nap time and takes off running out the sliding glass door and heads down the deck stairs.  Are you kidding me!?  I chase after her, remind her that 1. we do not run when it's nap and 2. we do not go outside when no adults are out there.  Carrying her up the stairs starts a meltdown because "I want to waaaaaaaaaaaaalk" OK so I put her down to walk the rest of the way except suddenly she's a statue.  Frozen. Won't move.  Fine so I carry her in to the potty and then it starts.  Kicking, screaming, crying and that's when I said, "Enough!" and put her into her bed sans all of her My Little Pony friends.  That tantrum lasted about a half an hour too long and at which point the baby is now awake.

It's really my own fault.  Yesterday I bragged about how good James sleeps, he sleeps all.day.long.  And damn it, I should have gotten up at 5:30 am like James suggested when he woke up to eat.

If you need me I'll be day-drinking.  Judge away.

Wow, my first ever guest post, I am so excited. I am pretty new to this blogging thing and to be guest posting for a veteran like Shannon while she spends some time with her brand new baby boy. As a mommy to a 22 month old little girl and a 2 month old baby boy I know how precious that time is so I think it is awesome that she is allowing other bloggers to guest post while she enjoys this time.

So, without further ado, this week I am saying so what if...

- Next week we may eat mac and cheese or grilled cheese or McDonald's every night for dinner, the husband is going out of town for work and it is just easier

- I die laughing every time the husband has to clean Mile's "blow out". He has changed a million blow outs, but Gianna rarely has them and since he is at work all day he doesn't get to do many of them right now, so when he does I think it is nothing less than AWESOME!!!

- I find myself sometimes wanting to push down the mean 3 & 4 yr old kids at the playground. I don't actually do it and I know all kids are mean sometimes, but some are just ruthless.

- My legs glow in the dark, we are going to the beach in 2 weeks, yay!!

- I love bragging on my kids. They are the greatest, what can I say.

- Working out so I can eat french fries makes total sense to me. It is all about balance people!!

These are the things I am saying so what to this week, what about you?? Thank you again to the lovely Shannon for letting me guest post. Please check out my blog and follow along if you'd like.





*Remember if you'd like to guest post let me know by emailing me at shannon.r.dew@gmail.com

I just had to share some of James's newborn pics.  Fletcher did such a great job and picking my favorite is damn near impossible.  He's just so snuggly and sweet and wrinkley and he's mine, all mine.